Gong-ringing apparatus



June 3, 1924. v v r 1,496,655

. J. H. CULLOM GONG RING ING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gvwam rm,

3 7 aHiou wq June 3 1924.

J. H. CULLOM GONG RINGING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm m. J

album Patented June 3, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. CULLOM, OF ROSEMARY, NORTH CAROLINA.

GONG-R-INGING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 15,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY GULLoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rosemary, in the county of Halifax and Stateof North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gong- Ringing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in a gong ringing apparatus, and more particularly to a device of this character actuated indirectly by the striking mechanism of a clock.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be very readily and cheaply constructed and which is extremely durable in service.

A further object of the invention is to provide an actuating mechanism or attachment for the gong ringing device which maybe readily attached to a convenient clock for operating the same and the installation of which will not require the services of a skilled mechanic.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gong ringing apparatus in which theuse of springs is dispensed with in order that a device may be provided which will be entirely dependable.

These and other objects I attain by the construction and arrangement shown inthe accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

On the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating a gong-ringing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a detail view partially in section showing the mounting of the armatures;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken through the apparatus; and

Figure a is a detail view showing the clock work actuated switch.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 indicate substantially horizontal, vertically spaced support members, these members being spaced by spacing elements 12 arranged pref- 1922. Serial No. 575,176.

era bly at the ends thereof. The upper ends of these spacing elements extend through the upper support member 10 and form means for attaching to this upper support member upwardly extending braces 13 which support a gong 14. Immediately beneath the gong 14 the supports 10 and 11 are provided with vertically aligned openings 15 through which is directed a shaft 16 which is counterweighted at its upper end, as indicated at 17, the counterweight forming a clapper for the gong.

Secured to the lower support 11 at opposite sides of the shaft 16 and extending upwardly therefrom are electromagnets 18 which are connected in series. While a single electromagnet of suflicient strength arranged at each side of the shaft may be. employed,

I prefer to employ a pair of these electroof which is secured an armature 21 for the corresponding pair of magnets. A second guide 22 extends downwardly from the sup port 10 and has its lower end arranged beneath the lowermost point of travel of the armature 21, this guide 22 extending through the armature 21 and preventing rotation of the sleeve 20 thereof upon the guide 19.

Extending downwardly from the support 10 is provided an adjustable pivot member 23, the lower end of which is pivotally connected intermediate the ends of a lever 24.

One end of the lever 24 is furcated and the I furcations slotted to receive pins 25 eXtending outwardly from opposite sides of the sleeve 20. The opposite end of the lever 2a is provided with an angular portion 26 having an opening 27 therein through which extends one end of a horizontal bar 28 secured intermediate its ends to the shaft 16.

The weight of the counterweight or clapper 1'? is sufficient to counterbalance the weight of the armature and sleeve 20 and The device maybeemployed in conjunc-.

tion with 'aclock having a striking mechanisni bycionne'cting one terminal'of the magnet-series with the clock works as by wire '29 and employing a contact switch such as shown'i'n 'Figure 4' for the other terminal of the series -This contact switch comprises an arm f30'a h-avi'ngoneend thereof furcated, as indicated art-31, andthe other end having pivot'ally monnected thereto a lever 32. The arm *3 is-provided with a stop member 33 againstwhichloneend of the lever 32 is held engaged by the arm 30 and lever 32 respectivelyil iThe end "of this lever is arranged to projeet 'intothecontrol train of the striking -inec'li'a-iiis'rr'1;; and-more particularly into the paw -of movement of the stop pins 37 of the 'rol wheel-38 thereof.

"As i well'k'nown to those familiar with the artfthesef pins control the striking movement-and act tostopthe striking in the ordinary oper'ation of theclock. WVhen the lever 32has its'endengagedby a pin 37 an electrical connection is completed through the clock-works tothe arm 30 and through the arm- 30;to'the-binding member 39 by means of which-the-arm 30 is secured to asuitable suppo"rt.*" Itwill-benoted that the arm 30 being: bifurcated for a "considerable length at 3l-,{the"a'rm and lever may be adjusted towardor'a'way from the centerof the control wheel 38-t0 adjust the length of contact. The" le ver 32 yields against the action of a pin '3? permittingpassage of the pin and upon, passage ofthe pin again assumes its normarpcsition against the stop 33 and with its end arranged inthe path 'ofthe next stop pin of the controlwheel, The clock having the striking-mechanism may be, arranged either'iii'aj;tower-4EO forming a support for the striking mechanism or may be arranged at a remot e 'point asdesired. Furthermore, the striking mechanism may, if desired, include-{miseries with the magnets a light 41 which is flashed upon each actuation of the gong The g'ong ringing apparatus will be preferably; enclosed within a suitable 'weather tightfram'e from the upper end of which: supports42 may be extended for use in maintaining in position a hood 43 for excluding rain,*snow,' sleetand the like from the gong and the opening through which the shaft l6 -a'nd clapper 17 extend. The

light 41 may be located within the above mentioned frame or at any other desired point to the gong striking or clockwork apparatus as desired.

From the foregoing it is believed to be To obvious that a gong ringing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended for the reason that the construction of the same is such that the use of springs is substantially eliminated and for the reason that the structure thereof is so simple that there is practically no working part which is susceptible 'towear.- It will furthermore be obviousthat theco'n'; struction hereinbefore set forth-is capable of some change and modification without" materially departing from the spirit of"my" invention and I accordingly do not" limit myself to such specific structure except'as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In gong ringing apparatus, the combination with a gong, of spaced supportsiarl ranged beneath the gong,"a-shaft guided by said supports and directed toward the 'gong and having a counter-weight normally hold ing the same in lowered position," "said counter-weight constituting a clapper for: engaging the gong, a member parallelingfl said shaft, electromagneticmeans for longitudinally shifting the member, anda lever pivoted intermediate its ends, having one end thereof operatively connecteditoy said member and the other end thereof-opera tively connected to the shaft. 1 4

2. In a gong ringing apparatus, the com H bination with a gong, of spaced' 'su-pportsar ranged beneath the gong, a shaft'guided bysaid supports and directed towards thegongi 1 and having a counter weight normally-h'old-f ing the same in lowered position; said; counter weight constituting a clapper for en i gaging the gong, electromagneticmeansfor elevating the shaft against the action ofthecounter weight including an electromagnet secured to the lowermost of said 'supportsr-a". guide extending downwardly from the uppermost support toward the electromagnet, a sleeve mounted upon the guide and-'pro"- vided at its lower end with an armature for coaction with the electromagnet, and a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and fhaving; one end thereof slidably and pivotal'lyen-"l' gaged with the sleeve and the other'end thereof operatively engaged with the shaft.;f 3. In a gong ringing apparatus, the corn? bination with a gong, of spaced supp'ortsara ranged beneath the gong, a shaft guided by said supports and directed towards the gong and havinga counter weight normally hold ing the same in lowered position, said counter weight constituting a clapper forfl engaging thegong, electromagnetic means' for elevating the shaft against the'action of 3 the counter weight including a cross arm secured to said shaft, levers having their ends slidably and pivotally engaged with said cross arm, said levers being pivoted inter- 5 mediate their ends, an electromagnet secured to one of said supports beneath the free end of each of said levers, and an arma- In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN H. CULLOM. 

